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MARYLAND AIR QUALITY MONITORING
Citation:
Description:
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has many programs in place which monitor, forecast, and effectively reduce ground-level ozone in Maryland. Air quality is monitored by the MDE through a series of monitors placed throughout the state. These monitors sample the air for a variety of pollutants which includes particulate matter, sulfur oxides, and ozone. Ground-level ozone is a colorless gas which is formed by a chemical reaction between Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone concentrations can reach unhealthful levels when the weather is hot and sunny with little or no wind. In Maryland, high ozone levels usually occur between 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. from May through September.